READ TO ACHIEVE FAQ FOR MEDIA

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QUESTION

ANSWER

RESOURCES

What is Read to Achieve?

Read to Achieve legislative initiative is a part of the Excellent Public Schools Act. Under this state law, third grade students who are not reading at grade level by the end of third grade will receive special help, including summer reading camp and other interventions to make sure that they can read well enough to be able to do fourth-grade work.

What must be posted on each charter school's website regarding Read to Achieve?

According to the law, The charter school shall annually publish on the charter school's website and report in writing to the State Board of Education by September 1 of each year the following information on the prior year:  The number and percentage of third grade students demonstrating and not demonstrating reading proficiency on the State-approved standardized test of reading comprehension administered to third grade students.  The number and percentage of third grade students' not demonstrating reading proficiency and who do not return to the charter school for the following school year.  The number and percentage of third grade students who take and pass the alternative assessment of reading comprehension.  The number and percentage of third grade students retained for not demonstrating reading proficiency.  The number and percentage of third grade students exempt from mandatory third grade retention by category of exemption as listed (above).

What are the special reading proficiency and promotion requirementsÂ for third grade?

According to Statute, students in the third grade shall be retained if the student fails to demonstrate reading proficiency by reading at or above the third grade level as demonstrated by the results of the state-approved standardized test of reading comprehension administered to third grade students. The charter school shall provide reading interventions to retained students to remediate reading deficiency, which may include 90 minutes of daily, uninterrupted, evidence-based reading instruction, accelerated reading classes, transition classes containing third and fourth grade students, and summer reading camps.

Is it possible for students to be exempt from mandatory retention in third grade?

There may be certain exemptions from mandatory retention in third grade according to the law. You must inquire of the charter school related to their student promotion policies and practices. The charter school statute states: Students may be exempted for good cause, but shall continue to receive instructional supports and services and reading interventions appropriate for their age and reading level. Good cause exemptions shall be limited to the following:  Limited English Proficient students with less than two years of instruction in an English as a Second Language (ESL) program  Students with disabilities, whose Individualized Education Program (IEP) indicates the use of alternative assessments and reading interventions  Students who demonstrate reading proficiency appropriate for third grade students on an alternative assessment of reading comprehension (The charter school must notify the State Board of Education of the alternative assessment used to demonstrate reading proficiency).  Students who demonstrate, through a student reading portfolio, reading proficiency appropriate for third grade students.  Students who have (i) received reading intervention and (ii) previously been retained more than once in kindergarten, first, second, or third grades. The Principal has the final say on placement of a child.